A Kansas City family is working to raise awareness about fire safety after losing a family member in a tragic fire at a University of Missouri fraternity years ago.

A Kansas City family is working to raise awareness about fire safety after losing a family member in a tragic fire at a University of Missouri fraternity years ago.

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Updated: 11:50 AM CDT May 7, 2016

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WEBVTT MATT: KMBC9'S MARTIN AUGUSTINE SHOWS US WHY THEY TRY TO USE THEIR PERSONAL TRAGEDY TO SAVE MANY LIVES. MARTIN: FOR DONNA HENSON, MOTHER'S DAY SHOULD BE A CELEBRATION OF ALL THAT LOVE A WORK THAT GOES INTO RAISING TWO SONS. AND IT IS. BUT MOTHERS DAY ISN'T THE SAME. NEVER HAS BEEN, NEVER WILL, SINCE THE DEATH OF HER SON DOMINIC PASSANTINO. HIS LIFE TAKEN BY A FIRE IN HIS FRATERNITY HOUSE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI. IT WAS MOTHERS DAY WEEKEND, 1999. MAY 8. THE SAME DAY AS MOTHERS DAY THIS YEAR. >> JUST A LOVING, CARING SON. WHEN YOU LOSE A CHILD, ALL YOU HAVE IS THE MEMORIES AND THE PICTURES. SO YOU CHERISH THOSE MEMORIES. MARTIN: THOSE MEMORIES LED DOMINIC'S OLDER BROTHER DANTE TO CREATE THE DOMINIC PASSANTINO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION. WHICH HAS RAISED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THE BURN UNIT AT CHILDRENS MERCY HOSPITAL, THE TREATMENT ROOM THERE BEARS DOMINIC'S NAME. NOW DANTE WANTS TO EXPAND THE FOUNDATION'S REACH, TO GET DEEPLY INVOLVED IN FIRE SAFETY AWARENESS AND EDUCATION. >> HOW TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE. HAVE AN ESCAPE ROUTE. HAVE A MEETING PLACE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE TO GATHER AT. KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T GO BACK INSIDE TO GET ANYTHING. ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE IN LIFE CAN BE REPLACED EXCEPT FOR LIVES. MARTIN: THE EDUCATION, WILL ACCENTUATE THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF DONNA HENSON, TO PUT FIRE SAFETY IN TO LAW. THIS SPRING, AFTER YEARS OF WORK, AN ORDINANCE IS NOW IN FULL EFFECT REQUIRING ALL GREEK HOUSES IN COLUMBIA TO HAVE COMPREHENSIVE FIRE SPRINKLER

KC family works to educate public on fire safety

A Kansas City family is working to raise awareness about fire safety after losing a family member in a tragic fire at a University of Missouri fraternity years ago.